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Gresini dedicates shock Bautista pole to Simoncelli
“I want to dedicate this moment to Marco Simoncelli because it is nice to be able to smile again after so many sad days” – Fausto Gresini.
Fausto Gresini dedicated Alvaro Batista's surprise British MotoGP pole position to his much-missed former rider Marco Simoncelli.
Rising star Simoncelli took two poles for Gresini last season, prior to losing his life in the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Bautista's debut pole was the first really positive news for the Italian team since that tragic October day.
"This pole position was unexpected but it is wonderful and exciting,” said Gresini. “It is only qualifying and the race is tomorrow but for us it is a source of satisfaction and confirmation that we are working well with Alvaro.
“I am happy for Honda, San Carlo, the guys in the team, Alvaro for his first pole in MotoGP and everybody who supports us and believes in us.
“It is a little over a year since Marco Simoncelli set pole for the first time at Catalunya and I want to dedicate this moment to him because it is nice to be able to smile again after so many sad days.”
Bautista's first MotoGP pole was achieved with the help of a late rain shower, but comes after a set-up breakthrough at the post-Catalunya test and having been third and fifth in the dry practice sessions at Silverstone.
"I'm really happy for myself and also pleased for the team. This pole position hasn't happened by coincidence – it is the fruit of a lot of hard work from all the guys who have all been giving 100% and sometimes a little more,” said Bautista, who switched from Suzuki to Gresini for his third MotoGP season.
"The conditions today were strange and difficult but we managed to find a good setting, I was up front for the whole session and set my fastest lap on my own."
Bautista, who has taken three sixth places this year, added that he also could have gone quicker without the rain.
"It started to rain for the last few minutes and nobody was able to improve their time, but I still had a fresh tyre to use and made a couple of mistakes on my best lap so could have gone faster too," said the former 125cc world champion, whose pole time came on the 15th of his 19 laps.
“Tomorrow I start on pole and have a good race pace so hopefully we can convert it into a good result."
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Injured Cal Crutchlow intends to start home race
"We are very optimistic that Cal will be able to participate in the British Grand Prix tomorrow" - Herve Poncharal.
Cal Crutchlow aims to try and salvage something from the British MotoGP weekend by taking part in Sunday's race.
Pending medical clearance, the Englishman will be able to line-up at the back of the 20-rider grid despite missing qualifying due to an ankle injury in an out-lap fall in Saturday morning practice.
After initial checks in the Silverstone Circuit Medical Centre, Crutchlow was transferred to hospital in Oxford.
Extensive analysis of scans confirmed the former World Supersport champion hasn't suffered any fractures and he is already able to put weight on his left foot after doctors reduced the swelling around his heel and ankle.
Crutchlow will undergo a further detailed assessment with Silverstone medics tomorrow morning, but the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team is optimistic that he will be given clearance to start the 20-lap race.
“We are very optimistic that Cal will be able to participate in the British Grand Prix tomorrow,” said team manager Herve Poncharal. “The medical staff in Oxford said he should be fine to race and he has no broken bones in the foot or ankle. That is a big relief because Cal was in quite a lot of pain.
“He will now undertake the necessary checks with the Silverstone medics in the morning, but it looks very positive. We obviously hope he will be able to ride after the disappointment of last year when he was unable to start the race because he was injured.
“I know what it means for him to race in front of his home crowd, who have given Cal and the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team unbelievable support this weekend.”
Crutchlow missed last year's race due to a broken collarbone in qualifying, meaning Sunday should be his first Silverstone grand prix start.
Crutchlow's pace in practice means he is eligible to start despite skipping qualifying and, even if all ten other manufacturer bikes finish, he will score five points just by beating the privateer CRT riders.
That's a far cry from the podium challenge Crutchlow has provided in several rounds this year, but the unpredictable British weather could yet play into his hands on Sunday - just as it did for injured team-mate Colin Edwards one year ago.
